Archive

Today I’m going to share some of my recent eBay experiences. Specifically, I’m talking about buying from eBay sellers located in China. The title pretty much says it all. But if you’re curious and want to learn more details, read on.

I usually buy from respectable online TF retailers that specialize in Transformers and it’s third party variants. Most of them are based in the United States. Some based in Japan. If you’re reading this post, you know who they are and I don’t need to list them. Every once in a while, I find out about a good figure after it’s been all sold out at my usual online retailers. It is times like these that I turn to eBay.

I’ve been an eBay user since the late 90s. Sure, I recall several times when I had an issue buying. One time I didn’t receive a $10 video game that I won (FYI… this seller had excellent communication, and he swears he sent it… it was only $10 so I chalked it up to bad luck). And there was another time where the seller possibly shipped it to the wrong address (which I got a full refund from eBay). But out of the hundreds of times I bought items on eBay, those were the only 2 complications. Neither of them felt like scams, and more like honest mistakes. My hundreds of transactions include both US and international, including China. No issues whatsoever, other than the 2 I just listed. I have come to trust eBay as a reliable source. That is, until recently.

In Oct of 2016, I decided to get a knock off MP Starscream, I think from KBB. I heard that the official MP-11 Starscream is extremely poor in terms of build quality, and that a KBB knock off might actually be better. I found a eBay seller from China selling this buy-it-now for about $58. The seller has perfect 100% positive ratings, with about 200+ ratings. So I buy it. In a few days I received a tracking number. When I try to track it, the site says “waiting for the item to reach our warehouse”, or something to that effect. The site will state too that it’s a valid tracking number. About a month goes by, and the tracking is stuck in that state. Contacts with the seller went ignored. That’s when I contact eBay. And looking at the seller ratings at a month later, it is now filled with negatives for the month before. This seller is now banned from eBay. I got a full refund.

I figured that was just bad luck, so around Feb this year I tried again. This time I was looking for Unique Toys Buzzing/Runman (their homage to Blurr). It’s sold out on all my usual sites. And once again, I found a different eBay seller in China, asking buy-it-now for about $84. Again, this guy has all 100% positive ratings, with close to 200 ratings. I buy it and get a tracking number. This time, the tracking seemed legit (initially anyway). It tracked its location in China, and that it got onto a flight headed towards the US. After nearly 2 weeks, tracking shows that it arrived at an airport in the US. But that’s where things got stuck. 3 weeks go by, and it’s still the same status. And once again, contacts with the seller goes ignored. So I contact eBay and get my full refund. This seller is still active on eBay. Seller ID: wanli-chengke. eBay hasn’t banned him yet, but he’s racked up close to 40 negatives in the past month.

So this seems to be a trend. Buying from China on eBay used to be ok. eBay sellers in China dealing in TF products are not to be trusted today. This post is not a commentary against eBay, but sellers doing business on eBay in China. I won’t buy from them again until I see hard evidence that this trend is reversed. And I do think eBay could do more to police this.

In summary, I urge everyone to not use eBay to buy items based in China. These scams can only go on for so long before buyers wise up. Transform and Roll Out.

If you ask me, that’s pretty darn good. Can’t wait for Trypticon to be released.

In other unrelated news, today is St Patrick’s Day. This is usually the day I take some shots of my green Transformers. Last time I did this was in 2015. I flaked on this last year, and unfortunately, I’m also too busy this year. I was gonna do it, and I made a list of my green TFs and everything. But life happens and other priorities got in the way.

Starscream is perhaps the most eloquent Transformer to ever grace the world of Cybertron. His combat abilities are near the top of the Decepticon ranks, but it’s his oratory skills that truly cement his place among the upper Deception echelon. Starscream could easily manipulate his way to leadership if Megatron wasn’t around.

The cunning Deception air commander has a bunch of famous quotes that you can use in your everyday work life, especially if you want to play the game of office politics. I have compiled 10 such lines and they appear below in no particular order. Use them to your advantage.

“It’s time for action, not words! I am the leader of the future!”Source:Transformers (1984), More Than Meets the Eye Part 3Context: Starscream calls for a change in Decepticon leadership. But of course Megatron would have none of it.When to use: Management loves to promote employees who appear to be proactive. Remember, they keyword here is appear. When the opportunity presents itself, show your enthusiasm and utter this line, loud and clear. Let your superiors know that you can take charge, and that everything will get done when you’re on top of it. Management loves that, because now they think they don’t have to do a thing, like they lazy asses that they are.

“Faster, you malingering peasants!”Source:Transformers (1984), A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur’s CourtContext: Starscream orders his human slaves to work faster on a electric dynamo.When to use: Your slacker subordinates are working too slowly and making you look bad for being in charge. Now is the time for this quote. Crack that whip hard to get these good-for-nothings back to productivity.

“Do I have a second on that?”Source:Transformers the Movie (1986)Context: Starscream, being the opportunistic weasel that he is, saw a chance to overthrow a seriously injured Megatron by suggesting all near-death Decepticons be jettisoned into space so the healthy Decepticons can save themselves. He then proceeds to lobby for agreement, knowing full well he would get the support he needs.When to use: Office politics is all about timing and alliances. When the opportunity is right, suggest something that will advance your position, whatever the situation. Then use this quote to get your office allies to back up said suggestion and carry the motion forward. Or you can just use the line to help yourself to a second helping of paid office lunches.

“You scratch my back, I scratch yours.”Source:Transformers Prime (2011), Sick MindContext: Starscream approves of a plan where he and Knockout will mutually benefit. Megatron is stuck in stasis, and Starscream wants nothing more than to permanently deactivate him. Knockout, using his position as chief surgeon, will make a false recommendation that Megatron cannot be saved. When Starscream becomes leader, he agrees to promote Knockout as his second-in-command.When to use: Having allies in the office is of extreme importance, as suggested in the last quote. The best way to build allies is to do something mutually beneficial. When the opportunity arises, take an action that will help your ally, or elicit help now for a returned favor in the future. Then use this line to seal the deal, ensuring that this action does not go overlooked.

“You would be supreme!”Source:Transformers (1984), Auto BerserkContext: A circuit-crossed Red Alert becomes super paranoid and thinks the Autobots are out to get him. Starscream saw this as an opportunity to advance is own personal gain. He would temporarily ally with Red Alert, and to do that Starscream told Red Alert everything he wanted to hear.When to use: Kissing a little ass never hurts anyone. There are many perks to being well liked in the office, and the key to popularity is to let everyone else presume you think they’re wonderful, even if in fact you don’t. Flattery would get you everywhere. Unless of course someone is sucking up to you, in which case you should…

“Ah, flattery will get you flattened, vermin…”Source:Beast Wars (1997), PossessionContext: Starscream’s ghost has possessed Waspinator. Starscream/Waspinator cleverly retorts an insult made by Rattrap.When to use: Office workers that do no work but excel at kissing ass needs to be put in their place. When slacking brown nosers pay you any kind of bogus compliment, offer up this quote and then proceed to double down on their workload.

“You’re supposed to know everything. What are those?!”Source:Transformers (1984), S.O.S. DinobotsContext: Dinobots make their debut for the first time and surprises the Decepticons. Starscream mockingly asks Megatron for the identity of their new enemy.When to use: Sometimes, to make yourself look good, you have to make others look bad. This line could be directed at anyone, including your boss, another authority figure, or simply a co-worker you hate. When your target is caught in a moment of weakness in front of a group, deliver this quote to sting that person good. For example, let’s say your boss is giving a presentation, and someone asked a question that s/he cannot answer. Quickly spew out this line to shine light on their stupidity and inflict maximum damage.

“I hear this is where all the idiots hangout.”Source:Transformers Fall of Cybertron (2012), Chapter 11 Starscream’s BetrayalContext: A group of Decepticon drone soldiers are talking smack about Starscream behind his back. Of course Starscream is hiding and heard everything. He mocks them before he effortlessly destroys them all.When to use: This is the perfect line to use when you have caught a bunch of lazy co-workers gathered somewhere, slacking off on company time. Alternatively, offer up this quote next time you enter a board meeting. Make it clear to the useless board members what you really think of them, before you take over the company and fire all their sorry asses.

“Don’t start with me, woman!”Source:Transformers Animated (2008), A Bridge Too Close Part 1Context: Starscream is addressing Seekers cloned from himself. Slipstream, the only female clone, continuously barrages the original host with sarcastic and witty comments. Starscream has had enough and he makes his dissatisfaction perfectly clear.When to use: When a female coworker causes you office displeasure by belittling you, such as questioning your authority or second guessing your decisions, it is time to let this quote fly. If you are of the fairer sex, then using this shouldn’t cause any issues, other than hurt feelings. The rest of you needs to tread carefully, however. Make sure no one else is within earshot, and that you’re not recorded. You could face possible HR disciplinary action at best, and a sexual harassment suit at worst.

“I’m stupid! I’m stupid!”Source:Transformers (1984), Triple TakeoverContext: Megatron was about to destroy Starscream for his treachery. A humbled Starscream begs for mercy while admitting stupidity.When to use: If/When you are about to be fired for using any of these quotes in the manner suggested (especially that last one), quickly whip out this line to feign inferiority to your superiors. A little groveling never hurts anyone. Get on your hands and knees and bow down repeatedly for full effect.